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7 Latinas Who Should Get Emmy Nominations!

Every year, the Emmy Awards have a ton of repeat nominees (we’re talking of course about the usual suspects: Steve Carell, Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, etc). but every year there are also a few fresh faces and a few surprises. With that said, here are seven talented Latina stars whose names should be called out when nominations for the 63rd annual primetime Emmy Awards are announced on July 14!

1.
Emmy Hopeful: Lauren Velez

Lauren Velez, 46

The Show: Dexter (Showtime)

FYC: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Why she should be nominated: One look—that’s all it takes for the team at Miami Metro to know that Lt. Maria Laguerta (Lauren Velez) is not pleased. After five seasons with the show, Velez continues to prove that she's one of TV's finest character actresses. She has taken a character that was once perceived as just a badass, and added a soft, compassionate side to her, all the while maintaining the edge and the strength that we love about Laguerta. Velez, who has been a TV star since 1995 when she joined New York Undercover,has never been nominated for an Emmy, but that's only because Showtime has never campaigned for her. They should do that this year!

2.
Emmy Hopeful: Sofia Vergara

Sofia Vergara, 38

The Show: Modern Family(ABC)

FYC: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Why she should be nominated: Coming off her nomination last year for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, Sofia raised her game in season 2, bringing the hilarity to a whole new level. The naiveté she continues to instill in her character Gloria Delgado-Pritchett (we're laughing at her just as much as we're laughing with her), continues to make Modern Family one of the funniest shows on television.

3.
Emmy Hopeful: Sara Ramirez

Sara Ramirez, 35

The Show: Grey’s Anatomy (ABC)

FYC: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Why she should be nominated: Because it’s been months since the musical episode of Grey’s Anatomy and we still can’t get her heartfelt performance of Brandi Carlile's “The Story” out of our head. The Grey's Anatomy musical event was actually the Sara Ramirez Musical Event, but playing a more pivotal role is something Sara has been doing on Grey's all season long. Just ask Grey's executive producer, Shonda Rhimes. “Her talent has always been amazing, but her confidence in her talent has blossomed in a way that has been beautiful to see," Rhimes told Latina.com a week before the musical episode aired. "We have 14 actors on the show, and she’s become one of the leaders. She’s kind to the new actors who come in and she tries to extend herself in a friendly way and she’s very open."

4.
Emmy Hopeful: Kate del Castillo

Kate Del Castillo, 38

The Show: La Reina Del Sur

FYC: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Why she should be nominated: Telemundo is launching its first Emmy campaign for La Reina del Sur(“Queen of the South”) and its star Kate del Castillo, and who can blame them? The hit telenovela has not only racked up the highest ratings in Telemundo history, but it has also been beating top English-language dramas (like the top-rated drama on television, NCIS) in the ratings week after week! According to Telemundo, no Spanish-language show has won an Emmy in any of the major categories. Meaning if Kate gets nominated, she would be making history! Here’s to hoping!

5.
Emmy Hopeful: America Ferrera

America Ferrera, 27

The Show: The Good Wife (CBS)

FYC: Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series

Why she should be nominated: America Ferrera'sguest-starring role asNatalie Flores, a college student born in Mexico, whose illegal-immigrant status put the brakes on her college career — and her dream of becoming a State’s Attorney — reminded all of us about the Dream Act, and that's a very good thing. The character's struggle to obtain citizenship in a country that's "all she's ever known," struck a chord with the show's Latino fans, many of whom know somebody (or know somebody who knows somebody) facing the same issue. America made Natalie someone we could all root for — she shattered misconceptions about what it is to be an illegal immigrant by portraying a confident and smart young woman with plenty of ambition. A 2007 Emmy winner for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for Ugly Betty, America explained to TVGuide.com what it meant to her to play Natalie. "[Natalie] is sort of the anti-stereotype of what people imagine when they hear those labels," she says.

6.
Emmy Hopeful: Eva Longoria

Eva Longoria Parker, 36

Desperate Housewives (ABC)

FYC: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Why she should get nominated: Everyone knows that Eva Longoria is the funniest housewife on Wisteria Lane, but in season 7, Longoria showed DH fans that she is also an extremely talented dramatic actress. Given a story line in which her character Gaby learns that her daughter Juanita was switched at birth, fans of the hit show felt Gaby's pain about raising a daughter she didn't give birth to (and not being a mother to a daughter she did give birth to). And best of all, Longoria still managed to maintain Gaby's funny side and keep us laughing all season long.

7.
Emmy Hopeful: Sarah Shahi

Sarah Shahi, 31

The Show: Fairly Legal (USA Network)

FYC:Outstanding Drama Actress

Why she should be nominated: This stunning part-Spanish actress (and former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader) stars as Kate Reed, a passionate lawyer-turned-mediator who is frustrated with the bureaucracy and injustice she witnesses in the legal system. While Kate is great at cleaning up other peoples’ messes, Sarah tells Latina.com that when it comes to her character's personal life, she’s kind of a mess. “That’s really what attracted me to want to be her,” Shahi says, “it was her flaws, her lack of ability to confront her step-mom, her dad’s death and her relationship with her soon-to-be ex. I felt those were all things that people could relate to because it’s real.” Interestingly, what we love most about Shahi's fun performance is how she's both cute-as-a-button and vulnerable, and at the same time, she's assertive, fearless and strong. That versatility is a credit to her talent as a dramatic actress.